“Love is the reason we are here,” said the presiding notary public,
bringing business to a halt inside Lancaster Pawn & Jewelry at 1
p.m. Friday.The South 200 store was a mini-chapel, with a wedding arch, flowers, a tiered cake and monogrammed champagne glasses.
Johnny Knight, 52, stood at the altar as his bride, Mary Paddock, 51, watched from the back of a makeshift aisle, holding a bouquet of fresh roses.
The groom’s mom, Patsy Bailey, handed him a crystal dove. “It’s a symbol of peace and tranquility,” she said.
Johnny reached up to hang it on the arch. Pawn shop clerk Justin Watkins hit the button on the portable speakers, and the music began to play.
Johnny’s best friend, Joe Moore, walked Mary slowly down the aisle to the arch.
Johnny and Mary met 35 years ago when he was in the Army at Fort Benning, Ga., which is near Columbus, where Mary grew up.
Mary recalled the first time she saw Johnny as a young soldier.
“Oh, he was a real sweetheart,” Mary said. “And he’s never changed.”
Life took them in different directions, but they never forgot each other. Through the power of Facebook, they found each other again last year. Two weeks ago, Johnny found the perfect ring for Mary at the LP&J.
Johnny, a disabled Army veteran, often shops for tools at the second-hand store. His visits always last longer than simple business transactions. Genuine friendships have formed between the couple and the entire LP&J staff, including owners Morris and Ginny Smith Sistare.
When Morris sold Johnny the ring, he joked that the couple should get married in the store. They laughed.
“The next day,” Morris said, “Johnny came back in and asked if the offer was for real, and we told him it was.”
Mary was completely on board for the pawn shop nuptials. “Why not? Let’s do it,” she said.
On Friday, notary public and pawn shop employee Charlotte Sistare got ready to officiate the ceremony, privileged to play a part.
“They said we made them feel like family,” she said.
Johnny joked: “Love will find a way at LP&J.”
His son, Sean Champagne, was there. He drove up from Savannah with his fiance.
“I took the day off from work,” Sean said. “This is more important.”
Johnny’s uncle and aunt, Alan and Dot Knight, stood by as best man and matron of honor.
Under the arch, the couple exchanged rings, said vows, were declared spouses and kissed. They walked out between the dozen friends and family sitting in rows of chairs.
The couple, the pawn shop staff and even a few customers became one big family for a few minutes.
“I’m looking for Mary to be right there beside me as the days run on out,” Johnny said.
“Always beside each other,” said Mary.
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